Bale's agent reveals next possible date for Real Madrid departure

Gareth Bale will not leave Real Madrid before his current deal expires in 2022, claims the player's agent Jonathan Barnett.

The Wales international has been heavily linked with a move away from Madrid in recent years after dropping down the pecking order.

Tottenham worked on a shock deal to re-sign Bale on deadline day but ran out of time to clear the big obstacles holding the transfer back.

Barnett later rubbished suggestions talks took place about Bale's Madrid departure and insists his client will not leave the Spanish giants for at least two-and-a-half years.

"No" he told talkSPORT when asked whether Tottenham made an approach last month. "[Daniel Levy] may have [visited Madrid], it's not for me to say whether he did or didn't.

"Gareth is very happy over there. And let's be realistic: for most clubs he is out of their league, financially.

"It's all well and good to say, 'give up that money and go and play somewhere else', but it is not all about money. It is about his lifestyle and his children, who have grown up in Madrid.

"When his contract is up hopefully he will sit down with me and his family and decide want he wants to do".

Bale, who missed the Madrid derby at the weekend through injury, has been limited to just nine league starts and a further three appearances from the bench this season.

The 30-year-old has scored twice and registered two assists in that time, while only managing one start in Madrid's Champions League group stage campaign.